Rumours have been circulating on the street this week that the Liverpool captain is due to appear
People were baffled this morning after thinking they had spotted Virgil Van Dijk on a popular Liverpool street. Rumours have been circulating for several days that the Liverpool captain would be filming an advert on Lark Lane this week.
Lark Lane is a busy street full of thriving shops, restaurants and bars in the south of the city. Last night, a film crew was spotted selling up on the corner of Little Parkfield Road, outside Lunko bakery and the Number 13 gift shop. The ECHO heard rumours that Van Dijk had been filming on the street this morning, so we went to have a look.
There was a far more extensive set-up this time, concentrated on Hesketh Street, outside Craven Funeral Directors and The Old School House.
We soon heard a director shout “action!” and a figure emerged from Hesketh Street who looked like the Dutch defender from a distance, with a similar height and hairstyle. On closer inspection however, it was not Van Dijk and instead an actor who the film crew could be heard calling Gabriel.
During several takes, Gabriel was seen walking out of a side door before inspecting a poster for Topps, a trading card company which has the licence for Premier League stickers this season.
Virgil van Dijk double being filmed today
Virgil van Dijk double being filmed today(Image: Andrew Teebay Liverpool Echo)
Gabriel was then seen getting into a taxi, where the driver was reading a newspaper. It's understood that the actor is a Van Dijk stand-in double, with the footballer himself set to appear in other scenes.
Crowds gathered as filming take place. Nial Whitfield, a 33 year-old from Thornton, and Tony Jago, 52, from Dingle, were among them. The pair, who have been putting the finishing touches to the newly-opened Masonic Arms pub, were expecting the Dutch defender to turn up soon.
Nial told the ECHO: “We’ve been here since this morning finishing work on the pub but the film crew got here two days ago. They started on the corner (of Little Parkfield Road) before moving up here. The talk around here for the last few days is that Van Dijk is doing the advert but there’s no sign of him yet.
The actor being prepared for filming
The actor being prepared for filming(Image: Andrew Teebay Liverpool Echo)
“The stand-in looks like him. When I saw him, it was a bit of a double glance. I assume he’ll turn up later. My son is football mad and I’ve got a football and a pen in the boot for Van Dijk to sign if he does turn up."
Tony added: “From the back, he really does look like Van Dijk.”
Filming then moved to a group of young people outside Grill Takeaway Land, which had been renamed as Goalden Chicken for the film. They were seen excitedly opening a takeaway box.
Filming on Lark Lane this morning
Filming on Lark Lane this morning(Image: Andrew Teebay Liverpool Echo)
A sign has been put up by The Masonic Arms informing passers-by of filming. Traffic was stopped occasionally when scenes were being shot.
It’s not the first time Liverpool players have filmed commercials in Merseyside. Mo Salah was spotted filming adverts for Pepsiin 2022 and 2024 on the streets of Liverpool.