Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher's on-screen chemistry separates Sky Sports' live coverage from its competitors.
The former professionals are direct and opinionated; they're not afraid to go in two-footed when need be and regularly agree, and clash, with each other on specific subjects.
Neville represented Manchester United during his playing career and was a tenacious operator who famously snubbed a handshake with his former teammate Peter Schmeichel ahead of a derby with City.
Carragher played for United's bitter rivals Liverpool and was known for his tough approach to the game and for taking no prisoners.
Sky Sports were presumably apprehensive when introducing the duo as working partners for their live football shows, but by the pair's own admission there has never been an ounce of awkwardness, despite the fact they were never "best buddies".
The pundits are hitting the road for The Overlap Live next month, with its biggest show taking place at the OVO Arena in Wembley. Ahead of the gig, Neville and Carragher opened up on their relationship away from the cameras and the secret to their success.
Carragher told Mirror Football of his relationship with Neville: "I wouldn't say we were best buddies in terms of like - you sometimes have friendships, people always talk about how we [footballers] always stay together within clubs, but I was quite pally with Frank Lampard for instance because of what we had gone through in the Under-21s.
"So you always have that connection with players from other clubs but it wasn't really like that with me and Gary I wouldn't say, I don't think it was ever a problem. I don't think it was ever a case that we knew each other that well away from football or that we'd ever bump into each other at like a concert or something.
"But I think it's worked out because we're both pretty similar and that Liverpool / Manchester United thing, obviously people play into that and it's a huge rivalry between those two football clubs and that will never change.
"But I think it helps that we don't take ourselves too seriously and we probably see the game from a similar point of view as well and also we're not that sensitive so we can pretty much say anything to each other and it's not going to cause a problem.
"Everyone is different and sometimes people are a little sensitive and that's fine, but I don't think that's something that you would describe the two of us like."
Neville joined Sky Sports ahead of the 2011-12 season following his retirement from football.
He was 36 at the time, not long out of the game, and provided Sky Sports' live coverage with an injection of tactical insight it hadn't really seen before.
Neville has been credited for introducing a style of coverage that went inside the dressing room, so to speak. The former right-back would highlight passages of play a casual viewer may miss, breaking down the more technical aspects of the game.
Carragher joined the team a little later ahead of the 2013-14 season, and by Neville's own admission took to the gig much quicker than he did.
Neville said: "It's a good relationship, I think from day one we've always, to be fair, been relatively honest on the show and direct, understanding that - well it's what we are, and it makes the best television as well and that exists off the camera.
"I think when I first started I was coached enormously by the production team but when Jamie first started he adapted to it a lot quicker than I did, no doubt about that.
"But I think the relationship is one that we would look out for each other, making sure - obviously not too much because he will stick the knife in if he can! But generally what you see on screen is what you would see off-screen."
Joining Neville and Carragher on The Overlap Live is fellow Sky Sports pundit and the former's ex-teammate at United, Roy Keane.
The fiery Irishman was known for his no-nonsense approach to the game and aggressive demeanour - something he has carried into his punditry career with brutal assessments of anyone he deems worthy.
Carragher admits he didn't know Keane too well before working with him on Sky Sports, but says he now has huge respect for the former midfielder, who is surprisingly funny.
"I love Roy Keane. I didn't know him too much as a player, but it doesn't sound like too many of the Man United players knew him too well off the pitch," said Carragher of the Red Devils great.
"He kind of kept himself to himself but the actual caricature of him and the way people see him from the outside, I don't think is the real Roy Keane.
"I think it is something that he maybe plays up to a little bit in some ways as well but I think people love him on the TV.
"I was speaking to him on Monday Night Football about going into management and I was almost getting around to the fact that why would you do that you're great on TV and people actually love the way that you are and the way you come across.
"He's very funny, dives right into conversation, loves talking and stories so he's perfect for this show that we're doing taking The Overlap live on the road and getting stories from Roy because he is a very, very funny man.
"He always comes out with something - a story you've never heard before. I think he's obviously different to us, which helps the shows, but he's a very entertaining man on and off the camera."
* The Overlap Live – with Gary Neville, Jamie Carragher and Roy Keane – hits Ovo Arena Wembley for its biggest-ever live show on Thursday, November 10. For tickets and more information go to www.cuffeandtaylor.com
